Cranes have been used to lift and move heavy items since antiquity. The Ancient Greeks used men or donkeys to power cranes. Modern cranes use internal combustion engines or electric motors and hydraulic systems, and because of this added power, they are much stronger than more primitive types of cranes.

Depending on the type of material that your project is moving, there are several types of lifting gear that could be used. Web slings, wire rope swings, and chain slings are among several different types of existing lifting slings that you can choose from depending on the project.

Web slings, which are the most popular and useful type of lifting gear, are lightweight and flexible, and have wide bearing surfaces which do a good job of protecting the load. Synthetic web lifting slings are generally constructed of nylon or polyester material and offer several features which promote their popularity. They are often selected when expensive, highly polished, or delicate material handling is necessary, since the softness of the web will not mar, deface or scratch loads.

Wire rope slings are often used because of its strength, durability, abrasion resistance and ability to conform to the shape of the loads on which it is used. The steel wires that are used for wire ropes are typically made from non alloy carbon steel with a carbon content of 0.4 to 0.95 percent .

When deciding which type of lifting gear to use, evaluate the materials you need to transfer first. Choosing the correct lifting gear means keeping your transported materials, as well as your machine operators safe, so it is an important thing to get right.